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Psychology Of Aging > Chapter 4 > Flashcards

Chapter 4 Flashcards

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1
Q

What is average longevity?

A

Average longevity refers to the age at which half of the people born in a particular year will have died.

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2
Q

What factors contribute to increasing average longevity?

A

Increasing average longevity is due mainly to the elimination of many diseases, a reduction in deaths during childbirth, and advances in medical technology.

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3
Q

How does average longevity vary?

A

Average longevity varies across racial or ethnic groups.

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4
Q

What is maximum longevity?

A

Maximum longevity is the oldest age to which any individual of a species lives, estimated at 120 years due to body system failure and genetic factors.

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5
Q

What is active life expectancy?

A

Active life expectancy refers to living to a healthy, independent old age.

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6
Q

What is dependent life expectancy?

A

Dependent life expectancy refers to the years of living after losing independence.

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7
Q

What genetic factors influence average longevity?

A

A strong predictor of your longevity is whether your parents are long- or short-lived.

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8
Q

What environmental factors can shorten longevity?

A

Disease, toxins, lifestyle, and social class can dramatically shorten longevity. Most environmental factors are the result of human activity and needlessly shorten lives.

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9
Q

How do ethnic differences affect average longevity?

A

People of different ethnic groups do not have the same average longevity at birth.
* For example, African Americans’ average longevity at birth is 4 years lower for men and 3 years lower for women, compared to European Americans
* Differences primary due to enviromental factors

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10
Q

What is the average longevity difference between African Americans and European Americans?

A

African Americans’ average longevity at birth is 4 years lower for men and 3 years lower for women, compared to European Americans.

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11
Q

How does gender affect average longevity?

A

In industrialized countries, women tend to live longer than men by about 5 years.

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12
Q

What are International Differences in Average Longevity?

A

Countries around the world differ dramatically in how long their populations live on average due to genetic, sociocultural, economic, and healthcare factors.

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13
Q

What defines health?

A

Health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. (WHO)

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14
Q

What is illness?

A

Illness is the presence of a physical or mental disease or impairment.

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15
Q

How are self-rating used for health?

A

Self-ratings of health are very predictive of future health outcomes and reflect socioeconomic and ethnic differences

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16
Q

What is quality of life?

A

Quality of life is a successful use of the selection, optimization, and compensation model to manage one’s life that results in successful aging.

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17
Q

What is valuation of life?

A

Degree to which one is attached to his or her present life

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18
Q

What is the primary function of the immune system?

A

To fend off invading organisms.

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19
Q

What are the three major types of immune system cells?

A

T-lymphocytes, B-lymphocytes, and monocytes/polymorphonuclear neutrophil leukocytes.

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20
Q

What do T-lymphocytes create?

A

Cell-mediated immunity.

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21
Q

What do B-lymphocytes create?

A

Humoral immunity.

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22
Q

What do monocytes and polymorphonuclear neutrophil leukocytes create?

A

Nonspecific immunity.

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23
Q

What do lymphocytes defend against?

A

Malignant or cancerous cells, viral and fungal infections, and some bacteria.

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24
Q

What are natural killers (NK)?

A

A subpopulation of lymphocytes that works to prevent tumor growth and cancer, and may play a role in viral infections and parasites.

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25
What are immunoglobulins?
Five major types of antibodies with a specialized function.
26
How do older adults' immune systems respond to diseases?
They take longer to build up defenses against specific diseases, making them more prone to serious consequences from illnesses.
27
What is autoimmunity?
When the immune system begins attacking the body itself.
28
What is psychoneuroimmunology?
The study of the relations between psychological, neurological, and immunological systems that raise or lower our susceptibility to and ability to recover from disease.
29
What percentage of people with HIV are over age 50?
Twenty-five percent.
30
What factors may increase older adults' likelihood of contracting HIV?
Immune system changes and physiological changes, such as thinning of the vaginal wall. This may be further complicated by lower use of condoms. * African Americans are 12 times more likely and Latinos are five times more likely than European Americans to have HIV
31
What are acute diseases?
Conditions that develop over a short period of time and cause rapid changes in health status (e.g., colds, influenza, and food poisoning). Most acute diseases can be cured with medication or are allowed to run their course
32
What are chronic diseases?
Conditions that last at least 3 months and may result in impairments that require long-term management (e.g., arthritis and diabetes).
33
How do acute disease rates change with age?
With increased age, the rates of acute disease decline, but chronic disease rates increase. However, older adults with acute diseases have more severe symptoms, take longer to recover, and are at greater risk of dying
34
What is the role of stress as a physiological response?
Prolonged exposure to stress results in damaging influences from the sympathetic nervous system. This can result in temporary increases in cardiovascular disease, impaired immune system function, some forms of cancer, and shortening telomeres
35
What is the stress and coping paradigm?
Views stress as the interaction of a thinking person and an event.
36
What is primary appraisal?
Categorizes events into three categories based on their significance for our well-being: irrelevant, benign or positive, and stressful.
37
What is secondary appraisal?
Evaluates our perceived ability to cope with a stressful event (harm, threat, or challenge).
38
What is reappraisal?
Involves making a new primary or secondary appraisal resulting from changes in the situation.
39
What is coping?
Attempts to deal with stressful events; a complex, evolving process over time.
40
What is problem-focused coping?
Attempts to tackle the problem head-on (e.g., taking medicine).
41
What is emotion-focused coping?
Dealing with one’s feelings about the stressful event (e.g., expressing anger over a situation).
42
What is aging and the stress and coping paradigm?
The kinds of events that are stressful and the types of coping strategies people use differ with age. Older adults are more likely to use past experiences to guide coping and use coping strategies that result in a feeling of control
43
What are some effects of stress on health?
* Stress lowers the immune system’s ability to fight viral infections * Stress increases the risk of atherosclerosis and hypertension * Stress can increase the level of LDL cholesterol
44
What are general issues in chronic conditions?
1. Having a chronic condition does not mean one will be incapacitated 2. Chronic conditions can make life unpleasant and increase susceptibility to other diseases 3. Each of the four forces of development play a role in the management of chronic conditions 4. Life-cycle factors help us understand why reactions to the same chronic condition vary with the age of onset
45
What are common chronic conditions?
Diabetes mellitus, cancer, and incontinence.
46
What is diabetes mellitus?
Occurs when the pancreas produces insufficient insulin, resulting in above normal blood sugar (glucose) levels.
47
What is Type 1 diabetes?
Insulin-dependent diabetes that usually develops earlier in life.
48
What is Type 2 diabetes?
Typically develops in adulthood and is often managed through diet.
49
What complications can arise from diabetes?
Nerve damage, kidney disorder, CVAs, diabetic retinopathy, gangrene, and atherosclerosis. Dut to elevated gluscose
50
Can Diabetes be cured?
No. Though it cannot be cured, diabetes can be managed effectively through a low-carbohydrate and low-calorie diet; exercise; prober care of skin, gums, teeth, and feet; and medication. Taking steps to avoid diabetes in the first place is the best strategy
51
What is the second leading cause of death in the United States?
Cancer. Men have a 42% chance and women have a 38% chance of developing some form of cancer
52
What is the most common form of cancer for men and women?
Prostate cancer for men and breast cancer for women.
53
What are some factors in cancer and how do you prevent it?
* Genetic links have been discovered for several types of cancers * Modulation of the immune response by targeting the specific genetic structures of tumors has shown dramatic results * Screening techniques and lifestyle changes are the best way to prevent cancer
54
What is incontinence?
The loss of control over the elimination of urine and feces on an occasional or consistent basis
55
What is the most common form of incontinence?
Urinary incontinence which increases with age.
56
What are the five reasons for urinary incontinence?
1. *Stress incontinence:* Due to pressure in the abdomen 2. *Urge incontinence:* Caused by damage to the CNS 3. *Overflow incontinence:* Result of improper contraction of the kidneys 4. *Functional incontinence:* Results because a person is unaware of the need to urinate (Most forms can be alleviated with interventions)
57
What is pain managment?
Includes pharmacological treatments like narcotics for severe pain and nonpharmacological treatments like acupuncture and relaxation techniques.
58
most common complaint of older adults
pain
59
What are Pharmacological treatments?
Include narcotics for severe pain and nonnarcotic medications for mild to moderate pain
60
What are Nonpharmacological treatments?
Include deep and superficial stimulation of the skin, electrical stimulation over pain site, acupuncture, biofeedback, relaxation, hypnosis, and distraction techniques.
61
What is the relationship between age and chronic disease medication use?
Age-related increase in chronic disease typically results in related increases in the number of medications people take.
62
How does absorption of medications change with age?
Time needed for medications to enter the bloodstream may increase.
63
What is the risk associated with medication distribution in older adults?
Increased risk for toxic buildup in the bloodstream due to changes in distribution of medication in the body.
64
How does drug metabolism change in older adults?
Slower metabolism of medications means drugs stay in the system longer and can lead to toxicity.
65
What is the impact of drug excretion in older adults?
Medications are often not excreted as quickly, which can lead to toxicity.
66
What is the recommended dosage strategy for older adults?
A dosage strategy of 'start low and go slow' is best.
67
Who has the highest risk of adverse drug effects?
Older adults have the highest risk of adverse drug effects.
68
What is polypharmacy?
The use of multiple medications.
69
What are the consequences of polypharmacy?
It can cause interactions, may cause additional medical problems, and may mimic other conditions.
70
Why are accurate medication histories essential?
They are essential to prevent adverse drug reactions and interactions.
71
How does the complexity of medication regimens affect adherence?
As the number of medications taken increases and the regimens become more complex, adherence decreases.
72
What is a way to support medication adherence?
The use of smartphone apps as part of a telemedicine approach.
73
What does disability refer to in late life?
The effects that chronic conditions have on people’s ability to engage in necessary, expected, and personally desired activities.
74
What is compression of mortality?
The average age when one becomes disabled for the first time is postponed, compressing the time between the onset of disability and death.
75
What model of disability do Verbrugge and Jette propose?
A model that includes pathology, impairments of organ systems, functional limitations, and disability, along with risk factors and intervention strategies.
76
What are extraindividual factors in the model of disability?
Factors that include the environment and health care (e.g., surgery, medications, physical environment supports).
77
What are intraindividual factors in the model of disability?
Behavioral and personality-based factors (e.g., exercise program, positive outlook).
78
What are exacerbators in the context of disability?
Situations that make matters worse (e.g., inflexible social service agency policies).
79
What does the model of disability emphasize?
The fit between the person and the environment.
80
What role do psychosocial factors play in disability?
The mediating role of psychosocial factors (mastery) can result in lower levels of disability.
81
How is functional health status determined?
By asking the person and demonstrating abilities in home and clinical/laboratory settings.
82
What is the hierarchy of loss?
The sequence of loss of function.
83
Who are frail older adults?
A subgroup of older adults who have physical disabilities, are very ill, may have cognitive or psychological disorders, and need assistance with everyday tasks.
84
What are activities of daily living (ADLs)?
Basic self-care tasks (e.g., bathing, eating, toileting, and dressing).
85
When is a person considered frail?
If he or she needs help with one or more activities of daily living (ADLs).
86
What are instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs)?
Activities that require some intellectual competence and planning (e.g., paying bills, taking medications, and shopping).
87
What is a third way of assessing competence?
Focusing on physical limitations (PLIM) such as walking a block or sitting for 2 hours.
88
How does the need for assistance with ADLs, IADLs, and PLIMs change with age?
The number of adults who need assistance increases with age.
89
What mental health issues are frail older adults more prone to?
They are more prone to depression and anxiety disorders.
90
What chronic conditions predict future disabilities?
Arthritis and cerebrovascular disease.
91
What lifestyle factors predict future disability?
Smoking, heavy drinking, physical inactivity, depression, social isolation, and fair or poor perceived health status.
92
How do socioeconomic factors affect disability?
Being wealthy helps increase average longevity but does not protect one from developing chronic conditions.
93
How do disability rates differ across racial and ethnic groups?
More affluent older adults have lower levels of disability.
94
How do disability rates compare globally?
Rates of disabilities are higher in low-income countries and among women.
95
How do chronic disease rates in the United States compare to Europe?
The United States has higher rates of most chronic diseases than most European countries that have greater access to health care.

Psychology Of Aging (5 decks)

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